All About Bathroom Toilets and Toilet Seats

Today's toilets no longer need to be known only as your "thinking seat." Thanks to modern technology, toilets have become stylish and are more efficient than ever before. Usually, the only considerations you give your toilet are the color and how well it flushes. The toilet has evolved and now can become part of your bathroom's design and maybe its focal point.

First steps in choosing a toilet.

Toilets come in several different shapes and styles. Traditionally, most household toilets are two-piece fixtures and tend to be less expensive. In this design, the top piece, or the tank, holds the water while the bottom piece is the bowl of the toilet. Typically, these toilets use a simple gravity flush to remove waste from the bowl. A one-piece toilet typically uses pressure from your plumbing system in addition to gravity to help create a more forceful flush. Pressure-assisted toilets tend to have a louder flush than gravity-flush toilets. However, there are variations in which toilets can use both methods to provide the desired flush power. No matter which style you use, today's toilets use a maximum of 1.6 gallons per flush.

When shopping for a toilet, it is important to consider the amount of space needed in your bathroom. With toilets, you have two designs in mind when concerning space. A round bowl is more traditional and ideally used in bathrooms where space is limited. An elongated bowl has an oval shape with an extended front rim. Elongated toilets provide maximum comfort and style. Given no space constraints, we recommend an elongated toilet because of the comfort it offers.

Wall-mounted toilets are not so different from floor-mounted toilets. A wall-mounted toilet is actually a two-piece toilet, and the water tank is usually hung inside the wall. Wall-mounted toilets provide a nice clean look to any bathroom and allow for easy cleanup. When installing a wall-mounted toilet, be sure you have adequate support to handle the pressure exerted on the toilet and wall.

The EPA estimates that if 10 percent of households in America installed WaterSense-labeled faucets and accessories, it could save over 6 billion gallons of water per year. Products with the WaterSense label have been certified to be at least 20% more efficient without sacrificing performance. Most brands offer many different styles of toilets that meet these criteria. If you are looking for ways to become even more eco-friendly and use less water, check out dual flush toilets. These toilets use technology that gives the user an option to perform a full flush, or a flush that uses less water when a full flush is not necessary.

One of the most overlooked aspects of replacing a toilet is measuring the toilet rough-in. The rough-in dimensions is the distance from the finished wall to the center of the waste hole. Almost every two-piece toilet is a 12-inch rough, while most flush valve toilets have a 10-inch rough-in.

Choosing a toilet seat and accessories.

Most toilets for sale today do not come with a toilet seat. Instead of this discouraging you, use this opportunity to find the ultimate toilet seat. Be sure to start your shopping in the right section. Check your toilet to determine if it's a round toilet or elongated toilet. From there, choose your color and style. Also available are heated toilet seats with bidet functionality, deodorizer, and even remote controls. Be sure to check out individual features for your toilet seat such as EasyClean hinges and QuietClose lids. With QuietClose lids, you will never have to listen to another lid bang on the seat because the hinges provide a soft and gentle close. Be sure to order a lid from the same manufacturer if you are selecting a toilet color other than white as colors will vary between each manufacturer.

Because toilets today have become a decorative piece of your bathroom, be sure to accessorize your bathroom with things like toilet paper holders, bathroom lighting fixtures, bathroom faucets, and showers. Many brands offer collections that will allow you to find a design that fits your style.

So stop waiting to replace that old toilet and check out all the new toilets, toilet lids, and toilet accessories at Faucet.com today!